Renault is declining to discuss comments made by one of its executives supposedly connected with an industrial espionage case.
The passionate defence made by Bertrand Rochette to French radio station RTL makes it clear the executive’s complete rebuttal of any allegations and his intention to combat them through his lawyers.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
“I was called in a 8am on Monday morning – to my complete astonishment Renault had announced my lay-off for facts that I never committed and which are about divulging information for money, which is completely foreign to me,” he said.
“Of course I have no account in Switzerland or abroad and I received no money against any information that I could have transmitted outside on sensitive information.
“I realise you don’t divulge information outside and I have not been asked to divulge it either. It is my world that is collapsing in the measure I am completely outside this matter. I have absolutely nothing to be reproached about.
“It is a real nightmare. Renault seems to be going on a path which will probably lead to my dismissal according to what I have understood from this interview. This was a shock to me about which I can hardly understand.”
When asked the circumstances that had led this position, Rochette adds on French radio: “I have no explanation, I am totally helpless, completely in the dark.
“It is beyond what you can imagine, it is a nightmare. I am really innocent in this matter.”
When told that Renault was filing a complaint and was he prepared for it, Rochette affirmed he is helping his lawyers with the matter.
“I will do what I can to assist my lawyers to defend myself and assert my innocence,” he added.
When contacted by just-auto in Paris, Renault preferred to remain tight-lipped concerning any further developments.
Yesterday, the French automaker published a statement in which it confirmed it had filed a complaint against “persons unknown, for acts constituting organised industrial espionage, corruption, breach of trust, theft and concealment.”
Renault added its complaint followed the discovery of serious misconduct detrimental to the company and in particular to its strategic, technological and intellectual assets.
“The policy is we are not commenting – we have to wait until a judgement is given,” a Renault spokeswoman told just-auto.
